Swiss limit executive pay

Switzerland will add provisions to its constitution to keep CEO pay in check.

Yesterday, voters in Switzerland overwhelmingly approved new measures to clamp down on executive pay. Under the approved referendum — which means that the new provisions will be added to the Swiss constitution — shareholders will have the ability to veto executive pay packages, so-called “golden parachutes” will be outlawed, and executives who defy the rules could see jail time. As the Wall Street Journal’s Andrew Peaple wrote, “Swiss voters’ anger is understandable. Like other countries, it has seen executive pay rise out of all proportion over the past decade” ...

Many of the same problems that led to Swiss frustration with CEO pay apply here in the U.S. For instance, Citigroup CEO Vikram Pandit walked off with millions of dollars after vaporizing most of his company’s value. Duke Energy paid its former CEO $44 million for working literally one day.

Skyrocketing executive pay (along with growing pay in the finance industry) is a huge component in America’s growing income inequality. [emphasis mine]

Ruth, the little reading I did on hunter-gatherer societies tells me skilled hunters attracted followers and skilled gatherers attracted followers. Some of those societies became democratic and others became undemocratic.

While in college, a tactic I now describe as machiavellian resulted in my having an opportunity to lead. I did some of it well and bungled some of it, and set out to learn how to do it better. Some parts of leading I do well; other parts of it I leave to others.

My experience and your post led to my question about political and economic democracy.